The Championship - TNT Sport facepalm

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TNT Sport facepalm

Printed From: National League Rugby Discussion Forum
Category: League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk
Forum Name: The Championship
Forum Description: Discuss the 12 clubs forming the English Championship.
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=20536
Printed Date: 09 Jan 2025 at 08:44
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: TNT Sport facepalm

Posted By: gerg_861
Subject: TNT Sport facepalm
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2024 at 07:09

I was thinking this morning: TNT sports has set itself up as the home of English Rugby, with Prem, PWR, and internationals. However with their loss of the Championship cup, there is no mens 15s until 20th December. So...why in the world do they not show some Championship matches? For example, a crew at Bedford vs. Ealing would see a 2 vs. 3 match up in front of a heaving crowd. Instead, they offer almost nothing to the people paying their exorbitant subscription costs for December.

I saw USA vs. FIJI women in the HSBC 7s series this morning, played in front of about 50 people.

Replies:

Posted By: JZSmith
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2024 at 13:06

Well they actually offer quite a lot to those paying their "exorbitant" subscription costs just not a lot to rugby fans which sadly reflects the overall lack of interest in club rugby in this country.

Posted By: Mark Smith
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2024 at 10:57

It costs many tens of thousands of pounds for them to generate a broadcast.

Notwithstanding the fact they don’t own the rights to show Championship rugby, and many of the grounds can’t accommodate TV broadcasts.

Even the grounds which can accommodate broadcast would require additional scaffolding for commentary and cameras. I’m told that when the Prem Cup game at Ealing was shown last year they had to spend £5k+ just on scaffolding to make the venue remotely feasible.

As for the international 7s being on TV, that feed is already generated by the local broadcaster, so it’s just a case of tapping into the feed rather than having to fund and staff it themselves. Same for any overseas rights.

And this is all assuming there’s a big audience wanting to watch Championship rugby on a weekend when there’s wall-to-wall top-class European action on the other channel.

Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2024 at 11:38

A reasonable response, but not, I think entirely accurate around the scaffolding. If they decided to spend €5k for scaffolding to have a better camera angle for the semi-final, I can't dispute the number, but I would dispute the necessity. TNT has broadcast PWR matches without any additional scaffolding, and there is already a raised camera platform and commentary box.

I agree that other grounds might need more, but when TNT has nothing to show, due to not wanting to pay for Champions Cup, and there are plenty of rugby fans who don't want to pay for ANOTHER subscription, then they could steal a march on Premier sports quite easily with the Championship. Either the Bedford - Ealing or Hartpury - Coventry would have been in front of decent crowds and were cracking matches.

Posted By: Mark Smith
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2024 at 11:51

They didn’t spend the money to “get a better angle”.

It was to fulfil basic needs for proper broadcast.

This is why in the most recent batch of cup TV picks there are no games shown from Champ venues.

Whereas all the Prem grounds have adequate broadcast set-ups all ready to go.

Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2024 at 12:43

I believe there is still confusion over who has the right to sell the rights to the Championship.

Rugby, with teams that have been promoted for decades does not generate huge viewing figures.

Rugby with teams the frankly, nobody has heard of , is unlikely to generate sufficient viewing to be that interesting.

Now there are people to blame for the lack of publicity and we know who they are - I can count at least twelve.

-------------
Sweeney Delenda Est

Posted By: Mark Smith
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2024 at 12:49

Put it this way, if a TV network had the money and appetite to show Championship rugby - they’d be doing it.